Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Seating Chart
The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, known locally as the Schnitz, is an Italian Rococo Revival theater at 1037 SW Broadway in downtown Portland, Oregon. It opened in March 1928 as a vaudeville house and was the Paramount Theatre from 1930 to 1984, according to Wikipedia. After a $10 million city renovation, it reopened in 1984 as a concert hall named for Arlene Schnitzer. Portland'5 lists 2,776 seats, and the hall is home to the Oregon Symphony and Portland Youth Philharmonic.
Quick answer
The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall seats 2,776, or 2,808 with 32 pit seats, according to Portland'5, which runs the hall. That splits into 1,504 orchestra seats, 168 in the Dress Circle, 384 in the Mezzanine, 364 in the Lower Balcony and 356 in the Upper Balcony.
- There are five seating areas and no boxes.
- The orchestra level has no stairs.
- Elevators don't reach the Upper Balcony.
- It is home to the Oregon Symphony.
Planning a dinner downtown before the symphony? Seat 30 guests at 5 tables free, no signup.
Sections at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
The Schnitz has an orchestra level and a balcony above it, split into four seating areas: the Dress Circle, Mezzanine, Lower Balcony and Upper Balcony. The rows below are read off Portland'5's official seating chart, and the seat counts come from its technical specs.
- Orchestra — 1,504 seats in sections A to D, rows A to JJ
- Dress Circle — 168 seats in rows A to D, the front rows of the balcony, read off the chart
- Mezzanine — 384 seats in rows E to M
- Lower Balcony — 364 seats in rows N to T
- Upper Balcony — 356 seats in rows U to AA
- Pit seats — 32 extra seats in front of the stage, by request
Best seats at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
We found no official best-seat guide. Portland'5's seating chart shows no boxes, so every seat is in one of five areas. The orchestra holds more than half the hall, 1,504 seats, and has no stairs. The balcony areas need stairs, and the Oregon Symphony says elevators reach every level except the Upper Balcony. Portland'5 says the seats in its theaters measure 17 to 18 inches between armrests.
Tips before you go
Portland'5 uses a touchless security system you can walk through with your bag in hand. Latecomers may be asked to wait in the lobby until a good moment. The hall's box office opens only on show days, 2 hours before the performance. Portland'5 doesn't sell Oregon Symphony tickets, but the Symphony sells them in person at the hall from 2 hours before each concert. Portland'5 owns no parking, and the Oregon Symphony suggests the Fox Tower garage on SW Taylor.
How to read the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall seating chart
The orchestra is split into sections A to D, with B and C in the center. Rows run from A to Z and then AA to JJ, with no row I or II, and 32 pit seats can be added in front.
In the balcony, row letters start again at A and keep counting. The Dress Circle is rows A to D and the Mezzanine E to M, plus a short row MM. The Lower Balcony is N to T, plus TT, and the Upper Balcony U to AA. Seats are numbered in order across each section, not split into odd and even sides.
Wheelchair seats are on each side of the orchestra level. The Oregon Symphony offers free infrared listening devices at the Cloak Room, and the doors on both Broadway and Park are accessible.
Building a seating chart for an event at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
The 65-foot Portland sign on the front is a replica put up on September 4, 1984, with neon letters five feet tall. It was refurbished in 2017, according to Wikipedia. Portland'5 says the hall had major acoustic upgrades in 2021. A February 2026 condition report for Metro put priority building needs over the next five years at roughly $14 million to $26.5 million, a planning-level estimate.
Hosting a private event at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall?
Plan the room for your Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall event before anyone sets a table: dinner rounds, program rows, and head tables, arranged your way. Layouts run to 500 seats and export as a print-ready PDF for the Portland event team.
Open the seating chart generatorFrequently asked questions
- What is the capacity of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall?
- The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall seats 2,776, or 2,808 with 32 pit seats, according to Portland'5, which runs the hall. That splits into 1,504 orchestra seats, 168 in the Dress Circle, 384 in the Mezzanine, 364 in the Lower Balcony and 356 in the Upper Balcony.
- What are the best seats at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall?
- We found no official best-seat guide. Portland'5's seating chart shows no boxes, so every seat is in one of five areas. The orchestra holds more than half the hall, 1,504 seats, and has no stairs. The balcony areas need stairs, and the Oregon Symphony says elevators reach every level except the Upper Balcony. Portland'5 says the seats in its theaters measure 17 to 18 inches between armrests.
- What sections does Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall have?
- Main sections include: Orchestra — 1,504 seats in sections A to D, rows A to JJ; Dress Circle — 168 seats in rows A to D, the front rows of the balcony, read off the chart; Mezzanine — 384 seats in rows E to M. Full breakdown in the sections list above.
- Where is Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall located?
- The hall is at 1037 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205. On MAX, the Red and Blue lines stop at Pioneer Place or 10th Ave Galleria/Library, and the Green, Yellow and Orange lines at City Hall/SW Madison. The Oregon Symphony says its digital concert tickets work as fare on TriMet buses, MAX and the Portland Streetcar for up to 3 hours before and after its Portland concerts.
- How do I plan a private event at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall?
- The City of Portland owns the hall, and Metro has managed it since 1989, with management set to return to the city in summer 2027. Plan your pre-concert dinner tables for the Schnitz in our free chart maker.